Improvement in compound condensing apparatus for steam-engines



2 Sheets-Sheet l J. HOUPT.

Compound Gofidensing Apparatus f0r SteaJm-E11ginesL No. 196,902. Patented Nov: 6,1877.

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1 i I' ,J. HOUPT. v,

Compound Condensing Apparatus fdr" Steam-Engines' No. 196,902 Patented Nov, 6, 1877.

gitmsgzs I v NPETERS, PHDTO-LITHDGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D c- NrrEn STATES ram-mt.

JOHN HQUPT, OF SPRINGTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMPOUND CONDENSING APPARATUS FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,902, dated November 6, 1877; application filed July 2, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HOUPT, of Springtown, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Compound Condensing Apparatus for Steam-Engines, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central section of a steam-cylinder and connected pipes. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof. 1

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention relates to improvements in GOmpOllllCl condensing apparatus for steam-engines; and it consists of the steam-cylinder in combination with a plurality of primary surface-condensing cases, by means of which the exhaust-steam from the steam-cylinder iscooled to a temperature a little below that of boiling water, (under a partial vacuum,) and the hot water of condensation drops down and passes 011' through pipes into the hot-well below, and is drawn off from thence by an airpump, and forced into another hot-well for supplying the steam-boilers with hot fresh water. Combined therewith is an attachment to a force-pump, so located that a large portion of the hot water of condensation from the primary surface-condensing cases may be drawn off and forced directly into the hotwell or into the steam-boilers without allowing it to pass through or to interfere with the air- .municatev with primary surface-condensing cases R It, with which are connected pipes r. W, communicating with the hot-well W.

S represents the secondary surface -oondenser, or save-all, whose upper portion communicates with the pipe 1" by means of a branch pipe, 'r", and its lower portion with the pipe r, whereby it will be seen that the primary condensers are intermediate of the steam-cyh inder and secondary condenser.

'1 represents the air-pump; U, the well; V, the hot-water-supply pipe for boilers, and Z the circulating-pump.

In the condenser-cases there are openings r r", for the entrance of cold circulating seawater into the said cases, and within the latter there are curved perforated deflectors X X, secured opposite to the inlet-opening running from the bottom to top of the cases, and adapted for a general distribution of the seawater among the spirally-coiled surface-condensing tubes to which, however, I do not confine myself, as small short and straight tubes may answer as well, if not better, for con densing the exhaust-steam, and for discharg in gthehotwater and vapor more promptly from the primary surface-condensers, thus facilitating'the escape of the exhaust-steam from the steam-cylinder.

In order to secure the said condensing-tubes to the brass tube-plates, the latter have angular openings, into which are fitted brass castings, forming the straight ends of the condensing-tubes, and having screw-nuts on the ends of said castings outside of the tube-plate, and

a shoulder or jam-ring fitted into a shallow stuffing-box inside of the tube-plate, which is filled with a thick gum-elastic washer or other suitable packing, whereby, by drawing up the nuts on the outside of the tube-plate, the jamring will be closed ontothe packing inside of the tube-plate, and make a perfect water-tight joint. Attached "to the pipe 1", intermediate the condensing-cases for purposes of condensation of the exhaust-steam, the supply being regulated by a cock, 0, suitably applied.

It will be seen that as the exhaust-steam enters the primary surface-condensing cases R B, it will be cooled to a temperature below that of boiling water, (under a partial vacuum,) and the hot water of condensation drops and passes 011' through the pipes 'r 7"" into the hotwell W, and it is drawn from thence by the air-pump T and forced into the hot-well U, for supplying the steam-boilers with hot fresh water.

When it is required to supply the steamboilers with hot fresh water at a higher temperature than could be afforded by the ordinary surface'condenser, and thus also economize fuel, the cock of the attachment P is turned, and the force-pump connected thereto is operated, whereby a large portion of the hot water of condensation from the primary surface-condensing cases R B may be drawn off and forced directly into the hot-well U, or into the steam-boilers, without allowing it to pass through or interfere with the air-pump T.

' The hot vapor from the primary surface-condensing cases R R will be drawn from the pipe r by the action of the air-pump,through the pipe 1", into the secondary surface-condenser or save-a1l S, and there condensed to save the remnant of fresh water for supplying the steam-boilers, and to. produce the desired vacuum in front of the steam-piston.

By retaining a high temperature in the primary surface-condensers R R, intermediateof the steam-cylinder A and the secondary sur face-condenser S, I check the cooling efl'ects of the said secondary condenser from striking back into the steam-cylinder A, and prevent, in a great measure, the condensation of the high-pressure steam as it enters at each fresh charge into the steam-cylinder. This economizes the power of the high-pressure steam acting on the steam-piston when the engine is regularly at work.

ity of comparatively small surface-condensing cases connected with the exhaust-steam tube of the steam-engine. These may be from four to six or more in number, (instead of only two, as represented at It It, Fig. 2, of the accompanying. drawings,) according to the magnitude of the works. Any one or more of said small cases may then be throttled ofl, by any suitable arrangement of throttle-valves or stopcocks, so as to regulate the quantity of cold circulating sea-water in the remainder of the cases required to reduce the temperature of the exhaust-steam within them to a point a little below boiling water. The fresh water of condensation will thus be returned to the steam-boilers at a higher temperature than can be aiforded by the ordinary surface-condens ers, and at the expenditure of less fuel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The primary surface-condensers R R and secondary surface-condenser S, in combination with the plpes r 1" and connection P, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

2. The primary surface-condensers R R and secondary surface-condenser S, in combination with the pipes r, r", and r", and with the connection P, intermediate of the pipes r and ,r, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

- 'JOHN HOUPT. Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM H. E. HINDMARsH. i 

